Electrical ground anode for electrical distribution systems



Dec. 3, 1929. s. w. BORDEN 1,737,562

ELECTRICAL GROUND ANODE FOR ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS Filed May 5, 1926 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE STEPHEN W. BORDEN, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY Application filed May 3, 1926.

This invention, relates to improvements in electrical ground anodes for electrical distribution systems, where the anode is of the type which is driven, forced or screwed into the ground, as distinct from those which are buriedby first making the necessary excavation.

The objects of the improvements are to provide first, suitable'means of detachably 1t) connecting to such an anode relatively large conductors, varying in size and number, and second, to provide facilities for conveniently applying chemical treatment to the earth 111 the immediate vicinity of the anode.

The invention comprises the combination of devices described and claimed hereinafter in connection with the drawings and equivalents thereof, of which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a complete anode installed in the ground;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cable connecting member;

Fig. 8 is a vertical cross section of the cable connecting member, showing two cables in place; l

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the drlving polnt;

Fig. 5 is a front elevation of the driving point with part broken away to show the interior.

In all drawings like parts are indicated by like symbols.

The principal features of my connector are the cable connecting tting, F and the drive. point P, both of which are of special and unique construction. The other parts of the anode I do not claim as my invention, but the combination of the parts F and P with the parts A and B, I do claim as my invention, as well as the parts F and P them- 40 selves.

The drive point P is constructed with an internal thread T to engage with a corre sponding thread on the bottom of the pipe B. The outer surface of this drive point is fluted as at FT, for the purpose of providing the required strength with the. least possible disturbance of the earth with which the pipe B must eventually make contact. WVhen the pipe is screwed into the point P,

the end of the pipe rests on the collar C,

Serial No. 106,397.

thus relieving the thread T of the driving strain. The center of the part P is hollow as shown by the dotted outline of Fig. 5 and one or more passage ways or openings as O are provided between the hollow portion of P lying below the collar C and the outer surface of P, these openings being upwardly inclined from the inside out, so that the earth is not forced into them as the point is driven into the ground.

The fitting F is constructed as follows. The part TP of the fitting F is provided with threads TH and TH, located in the top and bottom portions respectively, the upper and lower portions being preferably, but not necessarily of different sizes. One or more plates, such as PL, are provided, together with the necessary bolts BT and nuts N, for the purpose of clamping the cables CB to the fitting.

Fig. 1 shows a preferred form of my anode. The parts A and B are ordinary commercial iron pipe. The part B is usually 2 pipe and often as much as 50 feet in length. The driving point P is first attached and then is driven to the desired depth, sections of pipe being added as the driving progresses. When the necessary depth has been obtained the fitting F is screwed on the top of the pipe, after which the various cables are attached. The pipe A, which is usually 1 in diameter and from 12 to 18 in length, is then screwed into the top of the fitting and the hinged belltrap BL attached to the top of the pipe, after which the parts may be entirely buried in the ground and where desirable, a cement flooring CT laid in place. It will benoted that the cement flooring is graded toward the belltrap and the same would be true of the surface of the ground where cement is not provided.

In a non-preferred form, that part of the anode from a point just below the fitting F to the surface of the ground, may be enclosed in a manhole, thus making the fitting F ac- J cessible. In such cases the belltrap is generally omitted and even the pipe A may be omitted.

When the anode has been installed as shown in Fig. 1 the entire anode may be filled with suitable chemicals such as common salt, copper sulphate crystals, etc., after which water is allowed to enter at the top. The water forms a solution and leaves the anode by way of the opening 0 in the point P and because of the pressure of the water at the opening 0, the solution is forced out to a considerable distance into the surroundin earth and also rises for a considerable distance around the outside of the anode. \Vith this method of applying a. solution, the application takes place at the lower end of the anode, whereaswith'the methods commonly in use the resolution is applied to the upper end of the anode, this being done by simply placing the chemicals around the anode at the top and adding water. It is a well established fact that a given length of anode at the lower end is much more effective than an equivalent length at the upper end and a chemical solu tion applied at the lower portion is also much more effective than when applied to the upper portion and remains effective for a much longer period because of the lesser tendency to dry out.

After the initial installation and chemical treatment of the ground, the method of installation shown results in the ground being automatically watered whenever there is a rainfall, due to the fact that the surface of the ground is graded to the belltrap. It is also very convenient to add additional copper sulphate or other chemicals by simply lifting the hinge-d portion of the belltrap and filling with the desired chemicals.

The chemical solutions so far used in connection with driven pipe grounds have been of such a character that they gradually lose their effectiveness with time, as the chemicals dissolve and pass away. With the type of construction which I have described, the pipe A of Fig. 1 may be attached to a source of water or liquid under high pressure, since the pipes A and B and the fitting F are all comparatively water tight, and by applying suflicient pressure the solution may be forced out of the opening 0 for a very considerable distance, the actual distance which the solution will travel depending upon the character of the soil. It is apparent that if this solution be of such character that, sometime after passing into the soil, it becomes solidified and forms a metallic vein connecting with the lower portion of the anode, a permanent structure eventually results which in outline would somewhat resemble the trunk of a tree with its roots, which form of ground anode is probably the most effective which can be devised. I prefer not to disclose at this time, the character of the chemicals or solutions which I have found suitable for attaining this result, but the matter is recorded here for the purpose of indicating the importance and advantage of constructing an anode in the manner I have described.

I claim 1. A ground electrode consisting of a hollow pipe having a hollow drive point formed with an opening extending through the wall of said point and a cable clamping device ailixed to the top of the ipe, the clamping device having a flat, rigid portion, a groove for a cable in the rigid portion, a companion plate for the rigid portion also having a groove for said cable and means for clamping the companion plate and said rigid portion firmly about said cable and the clamping device having also a hollow cylindrical portion with both ends thereof open, one end being internally threaded to receive the pipe.

2. A ground anode consisting of a pipe, a hollow drive point at the end of the pipe, the point having a cylindrical port-ion adjacent the pipe and a pointed end portion, the cylindrical portion being of greater diameter than the pipe, and the point being formed with lengthwise grooves in its cylindrical portion and extending part way into the tapered portion, the grooves opening through the end of the point adjacent the pipe and having the deepest portions of their bottoms in close proximity to the periphery of the pipe.

3. A ground anode consisting of a pipe, a hollow drive point at the end of the pipe, the portion 01 the point adjacent the pipe being of greater diameter than the pipe, and the point being formed with lengthwise grooves opening through the end of the point adjacent the pipe and having the deepest portions of their bottoms in close proximity to the periphery of the pipe, and the point being formed with downwardly and inwardly extending openings, the outer ends of the openings extending through the bottoms of some of the grooves.

In testimony whereof I have signed my me name to this specification.

STEPHEN W. BORDEN. 

